NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, 27 July 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

ENEMY ALIENS.

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE

WELLINGTON, July 3c?,

Regarding the discussion by the City Council on the suggested internment of all enemy aliens, Sir James Allen to-day spoke emphatically against indiscriminate internment, which he said would be unjust to numbers of people, as well as foolish and needlessly costly. Persons now working usefully for the community would be withdrawn, and the country would not only lose their labour, but would have to provide a large number of guards.

Regarding the argument that enemy aliens should be forced to woris at military rates of pay, Sir James said that this forcing of persons who were civilians, not prisoners of war, could not be done. The Government had received advice from the Imperial authorities on that matter. Sir James Allen instanced cases of loyalty of Germans, and said aliens who gave any indication of disloyalty were interned. NEWSPAPER RESTRICTIONS. FURTHER CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, this day. The new regulationh issued hy the Government regarding the Press censorship empower the Attorney-Gen-eral, if he deems it necessary for the preservation of public safety 'during the war, to notify the proprietor, publisher, editor, or printer of any periodical or publication that no issue of that publication shall be permitted until submitted to the censor. No matter specified in any such notice is to be printed until submitted to the censor and authorised by him, unless otherwise provided for. All matter submitted for censorship shall be forwarded to the Chief of the General Staff at Wellington. 'lf any matter that should be submitted for censorship is printed without submission to or approval by the censor, the printer shall be guilty-of an offence. N° person shall print a prohibited publication or " have possession of a copy thereof for delivery to any other person. Nothing relating to the present war shall be printed in anything butregistered newspapers unless submitted to the censor. No person shall print or publish any statement that the matter therein has been altered, or added to by the censor, or that the censor has refused authority for publication. NATIONAL HIGHWAYS. COST OP MAINTENANCE. WELLINGTON, July 26. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Automobile Club agreed that the roads of the Dominion should be made and maintained at the joint cost of those using such roads, and those owning lands whose value is increased or maintained by the existence of such roads and by the Government. It was resolved that the main or arterial roads of the Dominion should be managed and controlled by a non-political national road board, and that the several classes of taxpayers contributing to the cost of maintenance of these roads should have just representation on such board. A committee was appointed to arrange a conference with the representatives of Counties' Conference and Good Roads' Association with a view to discussing the above resolutions.

LIQUOR IN THE KING* COUNTRY

At the sittings of the Magistrate's Court iat Raetihi, on Thursday last, before Mr L. S. Free, S.M., several charges of breaches of the liquor regulations were heard

Police vH. E. G. Baker, charged with failing to give his name and address when ordering liquor to be sent to a no-license area, A conviction was entered up and accused fined £1 and costs 7s.

Police v Joseph Harvey, charged with failing to give, his jmrac _ anxT address when ordering""^liquor : :'; fo be sent to a no-license area. His Worship said he considered the charge not a serious one, but as a warning for a breach of the Licensing Law, inflicted a fine of £1 and costs 7s. A second information arising out of the same ease against fche same accused was withdrawn.

Police v Wm, Baxter, charged with illegally keeping liquor for sale. Mr Waldegrave appeared for the accused, and Constable McCowan prosecuted. Evidence was called to show that accused had procured a case of whisky which was disposed of within three days, with the exception of three battles and part of a bottle. The evidence for the defence was to the effect that he had bought two bottles specially for two men, and the he had gven away to his mates by shouting "nips" for them. The .accused

emphatically denied on oath that ho had sold any portion of the liquor. His Worship said the law in these oaseg in the King Country assumed a maa was guilty unless he could prove big innocence. On reviewing the evidence he could not say that the accused had discharged the onus thrust on him o£ proving hi s innocence. He entered up a conviction and inflicted a fine of £SO costs 7s, witnesses' expenses 16/6.